CBS Cancels ‘CSI: Miami’

On some days, CBS giveth and on other days, CBS taketh away. After ten seasons, ‘CSI: Miami,’ the first spin-off from the massively successful ’CSI’ franchise, has been cancelled. It leaves behind its parent show as well as its sister spin-off, ‘CSI: NY’ (which was quietly renewed). Its sudden departure leaves David Caruso’s career in critical condition.

Here’s CBS’ official statement on the matter:

“CSI: Miami” leaves an amazing television legacy – a signature look and style, global popularity and as a key player in CBS’s rise to the top over the past decade. We thank all the producers – led by Jerry Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman and Ann Donahue — and its talented cast, led by David Caruso, for 10 outstanding seasons. Viewers around the world will continue to enjoy rebroadcasts of “CSI: Miami” in syndication and on key digital platforms for many years to come.”

It’s not exactly surprising news. The show’s been on for a long time and with that length comes increased budgets and salaries. While the show has always been successful (it never got near ‘CSI’ numbers but it always had a larger audience than ‘CSI: NY’), this feels like a show being put out to pasture early rather than let it die horribly and slowly in the arena in front of an audience of 10.8 million 18-49 year olds. However, as the the CBS announcement states, it’s not like ‘CSI: Miami’ is going anywhere anytime soon. With 232 episodes, it’s going to be in syndication for a long, long time.

And David Caruso’s Sunglasses/One-Liner/Smash-Cut-To-The-Who that opens every episode? We’ll miss you most of all.